Macadamia spp. of the family Proteaceae. A couple of the species produce the familiar (and delicious) macadamia nuts and others produce a similar but poisonous nut (bummer!). I note that macadamia appears to be strikingly similar to lacewood in grain and color and somewhat to American sycamore in grain(but not color).
my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting --- colors will vary under other lighting conditions
All three of my samples are from the same source and likely the same tree and I could not get the color to come out quite right.
All the pics show a purple tint that is not in the pieces themselves, all of which are a slightly pinkish gray brown.
both sides of a sample plank of quartersawn macadamia / Macadamia spp. --- HUGE enlargements are present. I could not get the color to come out quite right. As shown here, there is too much of a purple tint in what is actually a pinkish gray brown with the ray flakes showing as slightly more pink than the background.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
both sides of a sample plank of flat cut macadamia / Macadamia spp. --- HUGE enlargements are present. I could not get the color to come out quite right. As shown here, there is too much of a purple tint in what is actually a pinkish gray brown.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
both sides of a sample plank of rift cut macadamia / Macadamia spp. --- HUGE enlargements are present. I could not get the color to come out quite right. As shown here, there is too much of a purple tint in what is actually a pinkish gray brown with the ray flakes showing as slightly more pink than the background.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
planks listed as macadamia nut, so presumably these are from the non-poisonous nut variety
macadamia nut slabs, all from the same vendor
macadamia nut scales
pen blanks listed as macadamia / Macadamia integrifolia
scales listed as Hawaiian macadamia nut
turning block dry, moistened, waxed
end grain dry and moistened
This set of pics of a turning block in various states was provided by cane maker Meilie Moy-Hodnett, whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. As Meilie pointed out to me, this is a wood where moistening makes a significant difference in the appearance of the wood, and very much for the better.
jewelry box made from Hawaiian macadamia and a closeup
